Exploring Paul's Letter to Exploring Paul's Letter to the Ephesians the Ephesians

By Paul GoodhallBy Paul Goodhall

EphesiansEphesians

• Ephesus was one of the greatest trading centres in the eastern Mediterranean and was a free city with its own senate and assembly

Ephesians Ephesians

• The Temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the world.

EphesiansEphesians

• Ephesus was the city of

• Astrology

• Sorcery

• Exorcism

• And every form of magic.

The Epistle to the EphesiansThe Epistle to the Ephesians

• Eph 6:21

• But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make know all things

In Christ Jesus In Christ Jesus

• In this chapter the apostle Paul repeats twelve times one of his favourite phrases

• “In Christ Jesus”

• “In Christ”

• “In Him”

• “In whom”

Chosen in him Eph 1 verse 3Chosen in him Eph 1 verse 3

• We are chosen “in Christ” to be• In Him• Holy• Without blame• Before Him in love• To be the praise of His grace • To be accepted in the beloved

Salvation depends upon a person Salvation depends upon a person being in Christbeing in Christ

• I Corinthians 15:22• For as in Adam all die even so in Christ all shall

be made alive.

• I Corinthians 12:13• For by one spirit are we all baptized into one

body.

Before the foundation of the world Before the foundation of the world

• Paul takes us from the eternity of the past verse 4

• To the eternity of the future verse 10.

• The phrase foundation of the world refers to the beginning of time and God’s dealing with mankind in redemption

Before the foundation of the worldBefore the foundation of the world

• However in verse 10

• The word “dispensation” means stewardship.

• And the phrase “fullness of times” means that God will do this exactly on time.

Before the foundation of the worldBefore the foundation of the world

• In verse 11 we read that He works all things after the council of his own will

Before the foundation of the worldBefore the foundation of the world

• God’s will was determined in the eternity of the past every thing has happened according to the good pleasure of His will verse 5

Before the foundation of the worldBefore the foundation of the world

• It is of utmost importance for each child of God to know his will, to surrender to it and obey it.

Praise of His Glory Praise of His Glory

• See Eph 1:6 Eph 1:12 Eph 1:14

• The main purpose of the church is to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ

• Who loved the church and gave himself for her

The Earnest Of Our InheritanceThe Earnest Of Our Inheritance

• Ephesians 1:14 “which is the earnest of our inheritance….”

• The earnest is the down payment which concludes a transaction

• when we receive the baptism of The Holy Ghost we are sealed and we belong to The Lord Jesus Christ

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians

• In this epistle, Paul gave two prayers for the Church the first one is in chapter 1 verse 17 and 18.

The Body of Christ The Body of Christ

• The last two verse’s of chapter 1

• states clearly that the Church is Christ’s body upon the earth. There is only one body and in order to be saved, I must be a member of that body.

• End of Ephesians chapter 1.

Ephesians Chapter 2Ephesians Chapter 2

• Text Ephesians 2:1-16

The Great ContrastThe Great Contrast

• In chapter 2

• We compare the situation between the old man and new man

The fallen state The fallen state

• Dead in trespasses and sin

• A child of disobedience

• Walk according to the lust of the flesh

• A Child of wrath

The New ManThe New Man

• Quickened

• Raised up

• Christ’s workmanship

Saved by GraceSaved by Grace

• Ephesians 2:8-9

• For by grace are ye saved through faith and not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any many should boast

His WorkmanshipHis Workmanship

• Ephesians 2:10

• For we are his poieme, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath ordained that we should walk in them

Our PeaceOur Peace

• In The temple a wall separated the Gentiles from the Jews

• On the out side the Gentiles were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenant having no hope and with out God Eph 2:12

Our PeaceOur Peace

• Through the cross, Jesus broke this wall down and became our peace reconciling both Gentile and Jew unto God into one body.

Together Together

• Three times in chapter 2 we have the word together

• Verses 5, 6, and 22.

• This express the fact that in Jesus Christ there is no divisions, but we are all “One in Him”

The Chief CornerstoneThe Chief Cornerstone

• Ephesians 2:20-22

• The chief corner stone is the most prominent stone on one of the corners of the foundation from this stone all the measurements are taken, every part of the building is plumed and measured from this cornerstone we need to be careful how we build.

End of Ephesians chapter 2End of Ephesians chapter 2

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